Two England fans jailed for role in Amsterdam red light football riots

Statue of justice.
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Statue of justice.
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Two English football fans have been jailed for three months, two suspended, by Amsterdam magistrates for their role in last month’s rioting ahead of the England Holland friendly.

In total, 140 England fans were arrested in the run-up to the match after drunken gangs clashed with police in the city’s red light district. Video footage shows the England fans throwing beer at passing boats and chucking a bike into the canal.

All but four were released from custody and sent home with a fine.

The public prosecution department had called for a four month term against all three men, but the magistrate reduced the sentence because two of them had expressed remorse.

A third man was fined €500 for resisting arrest. The fourth man has not yet appeared in court.

The rioting led the city’s police chief to criticise local shops for stocking up on beer ahead of the game.

The police were so tied up in keeping the drunken British supporters under control over a three-day period that two city police stations had to close their doors because there was no manpower available to staff them, Aalbersberg told local broadcaster AT5.

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